Trial in Kashmir recruitment case starts

Kochi: Trial in the `Kashmir Recruitment` case
relating to enrollment of several youths from Kerala for anti-
national activities in Jammu and Kashmir in 2006 began at a
NIA special court on Wednesday.

Eighteen accused, including alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba
activist Thadiyantavide Nazeer, who is also an accused in the
2008 Bangalore blast case, were produced in the court for the
trial.

Accepting a plea of the National Investigation Agency
(NIA), Special Judge S Vijay Kumar decided to have in camera
trial in the case in the interest of security of witnesses.

The court had framed charges against the accused on Feb 9.

The accused have been charged with anti-national
activities, waging war against the nation, possession of
weapons and acts of sabotage.

A total of 24 persons, including four Keralites killed in
Kashmir, are arraigned as accused in the case. The youths
recruited in 2006, according to the charge sheet, were given
arms training to wage war against India.

Wali, said to be a Pakistani national, and one of the main
links between the LeT and the recruits in Kerala, is
absconding with another accused.

Fayas, Mohammed Yasin, Abdul Rahim and Fayis, recruited
from northern districts of Kerala, died in encounters with
security forces in 2008.

There are about 400 witnesses in the case, most of them
from Delhi and Kashmir.